By JASON KETZ
Sports Editor

(WARRENSBURG, Mo., digitalBURG) — The Mules started the season 0-3 at the Houston Winter Invitational, where they lost all three games by just one run each. This past weekend, the team traveled to Magnolia, Arkansas, for a pair of regional games and a matchup with MIAA foe Central Oklahoma.

Mules pick up first win of season

PHOTO BY BRANDON BOWMAN / PHOTO EDITOR
The Mules baseball team practiced for the first time on their new turf field on
Tuesday. “There will be an adjustment for our infielders with the speed of the turf
and our pitchers throwing off a turf mound,” said Kyle Crookes, Mules head
baseball coach.

The Mules first game of a doubleheader last Friday was against Oklahoma Christian from Edmond. The Eagles struck first in the bottom of the first inning with a single to right field that brought home the first run of the game. In the top of the second, a sacrifice bunt by Mules redshirt senior designated hitter Matt Milner scored Bennett Oliver on a throwing error to tie the score at one apiece.

Oklahoma Christian responded in the bottom half of the second inning as they plated two runs on a double and a sacrifice fly to regain the lead 3-1. After two quick outs in the top of the third, junior center fielder Matt Elliot drew a walk that was followed by an RBI double from senior Jake Alexander that cut the lead to one.

The Mules followed in the next inning with another two out rally started by a single from junior shortstop Jackson Schnurbusch who advanced to second on a wild pitch. This happpend before second baseman Brad Jelenik drew a four-pitch walk. A single by catcher Colton Hilbrenner scored Schnurbusch to tie the game at 3. Still in the top of the fourth with two men on, redshirt senior left fielder Derek Cornell hit the ball into the gap in right-centerfield, which scored Hillbrenner and Jelenik to give the Mules a 5-3 lead.

The Mules plated two more runs to win 7-4. Mules starting pitcher Tyler House went five and one-third innings, allowing seven hits and three earned runs while senior relief pitcher Lucas Williams picked up the save, going three and two-thirds innings allowing just one earned run and five strikeouts.

“Tyler (House) has given us a quality start almost every time he has been on the mound for us,” said Kyle Crookes, Mules head baseball coach. “Lucas (Williams) did great work coming out of the bullpen to finish off the game and to allow us to feel good about getting the win against a quality team.”

Mules lose on walk-off homerun

Riding confidence after picking up their first win, the Mules took a 3-0 lead against Southern Arkansas, thanks to an RBI double from Schnurbush in the second and a two-run homer from Alexander in the fifth. Starting pitcher Ethan Westphal was solid throughout the game allowing just two hits while adding 11 strikeouts. In the bottom of the seventh, the Muleriders were able to cut the lead to one with a two-run homerun from David LaFleur.

In the bottom of the ninth inning with one man on and two outs, Mulerider first baseman Billy Germaine hit a walk-off two-run homerun off Westphal to win the game 4-3.

“Ethan threw three pitches for strikes and competed his tail off and gave us an opportunity to win,” Crookes said. “He made two pitches against them that they scored runs on, but he was electric, he was incredibly hard to hit, and he was better that day, but he didn’t get the result he deserved.”

Mules drop final game to Bronchos 5-1

The Mules ended the tournament against conference opponent Central Oklahoma. The Bronchos scored a run in the bottom of the third and again in the bottom of the fourth, but a three run sixth inning was enough, as the Mules only registered two hits in the game. The lone run for the Mules came in the top of the ninth when Oliver singled in sophomore Travis Able. Mules starting pitcher Carlos D’Armous allowed one earned run on three hits while striking out six in five innings of work.

“That’s the only game this season that I was disappointed in how our team played,” Crookes said. “I thought Carlos gave us a chance to win, and we had opportunities offensively to do better, but we weren’t able to provide that for our pitchers.”

The Mules start MIAA regular season play with a weekend series starting Feb. 26- 28 on the road against Fort Hays State.

“It’s going to be a challenge,” Crookes said. “Coach Johnson does a great job with those guys, and they are a quality opponent that will provide us an opportunity to play a very competitive baseball game where we will need to be at our best to find a way to come out on top.”